Injection vs Combined pill
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Add your Injection review
£From £0.16/day
Overview
Rated 2.9
306 reviews
Every 2-3 months
Frequency
94% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
Short term
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2737 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Injection ingredients
Main hormones in Injection
progestogen
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Endometriosis
Heavy periods
Period pain
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
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£From £0.16/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Injection reviews
306 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 14th Feb 26
This was bad experience my stretch marks even increased and low libido is the worst
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Feb 26
I would have rated this 5 stars last year. I used to be on the depo jab that had to be done at the doctors but I work 12 hour shifts meaning it was a struggle to attended every 12 weeks. So I was over the moon when I found out about sayana press that I could do myself. I usually do the injection around 11 weeks but the last 3 times I get to 10 weeks and get crippling period pain that completely debilitates me. Even after I’ve done the injection this will continue for about a week afterwards. I’ve never experienced child birth but the pain is horrendous. It will wake me up in the middle of the night, happen at work and is just completely random spouts of unbearable pain until at whatever point doesn’t happen again until I am next at the 10 week mark. I’ve recently learned that it’s a lower strength to Depo-Provera and maybe that’s why however I’m confused as to why it’s only started happening. My gp surgery is useless and it the whole process of going back to having the higher strength at the surgery is going to take some time but being able to do it at home is not worth this horrendous ordeal. I would not recommend switching
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Jan 26
Great if you’re looking to prevent pregnancy with less admin. Having the year’s supply ant home and not needing to see a doctor every few months was handy. Stopped my periods aside from some very minimal spotting and my skin was great - I barely had any spots over the years I was on it. I did feel like I was quite numb emotions wise. I didn’t experience mood swings but it was alarming that I often didn’t really feel anything! My libido was extremely low too.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 14th Feb 26
This was bad experience my stretch marks even increased and low libido is the worst
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Feb 26
I would have rated this 5 stars last year. I used to be on the depo jab that had to be done at the doctors but I work 12 hour shifts meaning it was a struggle to attended every 12 weeks. So I was over the moon when I found out about sayana press that I could do myself. I usually do the injection around 11 weeks but the last 3 times I get to 10 weeks and get crippling period pain that completely debilitates me. Even after I’ve done the injection this will continue for about a week afterwards. I’ve never experienced child birth but the pain is horrendous. It will wake me up in the middle of the night, happen at work and is just completely random spouts of unbearable pain until at whatever point doesn’t happen again until I am next at the 10 week mark. I’ve recently learned that it’s a lower strength to Depo-Provera and maybe that’s why however I’m confused as to why it’s only started happening. My gp surgery is useless and it the whole process of going back to having the higher strength at the surgery is going to take some time but being able to do it at home is not worth this horrendous ordeal. I would not recommend switching
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Jan 26
Great if you’re looking to prevent pregnancy with less admin. Having the year’s supply ant home and not needing to see a doctor every few months was handy. Stopped my periods aside from some very minimal spotting and my skin was great - I barely had any spots over the years I was on it. I did feel like I was quite numb emotions wise. I didn’t experience mood swings but it was alarming that I often didn’t really feel anything! My libido was extremely low too.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Combined pill reviews
2737 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Zero libido and very painful to have sex when I tried. Stopped periods which was great for endometriosis but slowed my digestion so much the bloating and endo belly was uncomfortable all the time, caused pain in hips, lower abdomen and lower back. Had constant reflux unless I slept upright which wasn’t ideal.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
45 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
It was very convenient and I was on it for 28 years. Im not sure if it mighf have been a causal factor in my low sex libido and recurring depressive episodes.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
The pill made me most suicidal. Anxiety and depression were through the roof.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Zero libido and very painful to have sex when I tried. Stopped periods which was great for endometriosis but slowed my digestion so much the bloating and endo belly was uncomfortable all the time, caused pain in hips, lower abdomen and lower back. Had constant reflux unless I slept upright which wasn’t ideal.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
45 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
It was very convenient and I was on it for 28 years. Im not sure if it mighf have been a causal factor in my low sex libido and recurring depressive episodes.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
The pill made me most suicidal. Anxiety and depression were through the roof.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I started the combined pill Drovelis late in my cycle. On day nine of taking the pink pill I got a breakthrough bleed. It's been 10 days and it only increased the last maybe 4 days. I am currently taking iron though and since I'm using it mostly to manage menhorragia im hoping the breakthrough bleeding will taper soon. In contrast my periods were terrible. Dragged over 12 days. Haemorragic. I never went to hospital for them in years but probably barely saved myself on time. I also had them every 26 days which was less than ideal so timed apart. Its worrying but I'm told to continue and see how it goes into the next pack or I'll have to consult with my GP and consider changing brand if my situation doesn't improve. My moods are terrible. I get crying spells and am a lot quieter than I used to be. I'm usually outgoing and very opinionated. Might review again next month. But since it's my first experience I thought id give it a shot
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
The pill did what it was supposed to which is to stop pregnancy and knowing when my periods would be. I feel like my experience might be a little different to others as I started these pills when I was about 17 and only got off them when I was about 30. So I only know this type of contraception and also not really aware of my natural cycle/hormones until I got off them. I feel like being on them made me emotionless? When I got off them, I started crying a lot more at little things and realise I had a lot more emotional range. I experienced really bad hair loss when I got off them- clumps of hair was coming out when washing my hair. I am lucky I am asian so have thicker hair anyways so the hair loss made me have thinner hair but it’s not like I have none left. Right now I am doing more to get my hair to grow back and it is slowly growing as I have a lot of baby hairs which is a good sign. I also experienced adult acne when I got off the pill. I’ve had clear skin for as long as I can remember and when I got off the pill, I was experiencing really bad acne and still experience that now. Being clear of this pill for a few years now I am happier I feel like in general and my periods are regular as I track it using an app, periods aren’t as heavy as it used to be when I was on the pill and not as painful. Also can confirm fertility is back to normal as well. I am writing about my experience as I was on it a long time and I’m not sure whether as I’m getting older other factors would come into play in terms of my own experience
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
The thing that surprised me the most was how my internal clock changed (backwards with 4 to 5 hours), while usually I'm not even sleepy until 1am, now I'm easily falling asleep at 8-9pm and waking up at 6-7am when before I was still cranky at 11am. My PMDD is also almost gone, and my endometriosis pain is the easiest it's ever been, but the breast tenderness/pain extended from the luteal phase to all throughout the month. Another surprising thing was the improved natural lubrication (vaginal discharge), while before it was almost inexistent even when turned on, now it's much more consistent.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
Started on this pill when I was 18, all was well at the start, my skin cleared up and my periods were much lighter/less painful. I then started to not feel like myself and be quite emotionally dull, I started getting headaches on the week off and being more fatigued than normal. Good for those who are looking to lighten periods or reduce PMS
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I have found my experience with Yasmin ok. I like that my mood is much better than on other pills and I feel more like myself, but I have completely lost my sex drive and experienced other negative symptoms unfortunately
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
This is the worst thing I’ve ever done and I’m not exaggerating. Constantly up and down with my emotions, although mostly down and uncontrollable crying a lot of the time. Had a huge panic attack 2 weeks in, had to call 111 as I thought I was having a heart attack. Made me binge endlessly and uncontrollably. Made my muscles ache and made me more susceptible to injuries, and as a regular gymgoer, it significantly affected my training and fitness and I couldn’t understand why, but the longer I was on it, the worse I felt. Decided to come off after 2 months. Would HIGHLY recommend avoiding this pill. It really? really did not agree with me.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
It was ok the first couple months but I've started noticing more side effects the longer I've taken it. I get much more muscle aches, especially in my back. My gums bleed randomly during the first week of each cycle and are much more sensitive. My mood is fluctuating more too.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
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